Veronica Lake -- Halloween, 2021 -- October 31, 2021

Happy Halloween, everyone. Actress Veronica Lake is playing a witch, which seems appropriate for the star of Rene Clair's I Married a Witch.

Stunt No. 33 -- October 30, 2021

Moving Picture World, 01-October-1921

It occurred to me a couple of months ago that I have not posted enough items about movie serials. Charles Hutchison wrote, directed, acted and performed stunts in many Pathé serials (Pathéserials). He was especially good at motorcycle stunts. Hurricane Hutch was directed by George B Seitz. It featured Warner Oland, who appeared in many silent serials. This ad shows Hutch performing Stunt No. 38, riding a log down a flume.

Moving Picture World, 08-October-1921

And this ad shows Stunt No. 17, going over a forty-foot waterfall. I need to find the other numbers. 

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

Stunt No. 33, Hutch and his leading lady going over a waterfall in a canoe. 

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Colonel William N Selig encouraged people to WAIT for his masterful but not-as-yet named serial with wild animals. Selig kept a zoo so he had a good selection of animals. 

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

Elmo Lincoln, who had a huge chest, played Tarzan for the third time in The Adventures of Tarzan.

Moving Picture World, 15-October-1921

Louise Lorraine played Jane.

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

Art Acord was a cowboy star who appeared in many silent films, but did not make the transition to talkies. Winners of the West claimed to be based on history. It was a big Universal production.

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

Universal said the serial "will need no censor." Censorship of movies was a hot topic. 

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

Ann Little acted in many movies during the Teens and Twenties and retired from acting in the mid-Twenties. Co-star Ben F Wilson produced, directed and starred in many silent movies. I suspect The Blue Fox is lost. 

Out of the Inkwell -- October 29, 2021

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

Brothers Max and Dave Fleischer founded Out of the Inkwell Studios in 1921. 

   

Moving Picture World, 29-October-1921

Rialto Productions released Winsor McKay's animated "The Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend," and the disturbing Funny Face Comedies, which appeared to feature either marionettes or animated dolls. 

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Pioneering animator Paul Terry produced Aesop's Fables from 1921 to 1933. 

Wanted for Colored Motion Pictures! -- October 28, 2021

Chicago Whip, 29-October-1921

The Gate City Feature Film Company of Chicago advertised for "Girls and Young Men" of color to appear in "our Super-Feature 'Fought and Won.'" I can't find any records of the company or the film, but I will keep digging.

Moving Picture World, 29-October-1921

Ernest Morrison, billed as Sunshine Sammy, had appeared in many of Hal Roach's short comedies with Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard. Roach starred Morrison in "The Pickanniny." "Pickanniny" is a derogatory term for a child of African descent. Morrison went on to be a member of the Bowery Boys. 

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

"a ray of joy." Later, we will see more about the Harris Dickson comedies. 

Moving Picture World, 29-October-1921

I don't know who played Morrison's partner. 

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

I was not familiar with the name Harris Dickson. A little research shows me that he was a lawyer and judge from the south. He wrote many stories about small-town life for the Saturday Evening Post. I was not entirely surprised to learn that he was prominent in the Anti-Miscegenation movement. Much of his output was what were referred to as "Colored stories." I have never read one of his stories, but I'll bet they contain the occasional stereotype.

Jasper, Mississippi News, 02-July-1915

"Old Reliable" was Dickson's most popular character. This items says of Dickson that (please excuse the racism) "His stories have helped the nation at large to understand the unique characteristics and appreciate the genuine humor of the southern darkey more than those of any other living writer."

Saturday Evening Post, 25-July-1914

Moving Picture World, 08-October-1921

At least the characters in "The Custard Nine," based on the Saturday Evening Post story were played by actual African-Americans and not European-Americans in blackface.

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

Meanwhile, a theater in Cristobal, Panama was promoting a Universal serial called The White Horseman with a guy dressed as a member of the KKK. Fortunately, the police hauled him to jail for brandishing a firearm. 

Exhibitors Herald, 08-October-1921

African American groups like the NAACP were protesting the revival of The Birth of a Nation, which helped to inspire the growth of the second Klan. 

These Comedies Feature Foremost Fun Makers -- October 27, 2021

Moving Picture World, 29-October-1921

In Century Comedies, Brownie, "The Most Wonderful Dog in the World," was ably supported by Harry Sweet, Charles Doherty and Baby Peggy. Note that Brownie is ironing, feeding Baby Peggy, pitching hay, working a cash register, climbing a ladder, driving a car and riding a horse.

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

"Century is specializing on dog comedies."

Moving Picture World, 15-October-1921

"A Hundred Laughs -- That's a Century."

Moving Picture World, 01-October-1921

"Baby Peggy, Two Years Old, Has Been Made Star."

Exhibitors Herald, 08-October-1921

"Any actor or actress who proves to me that he or she can act, advances, and as to age -- Baby Peggy my newest star, is but 2 years and 2 months old."

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Baby Peggy's movie "A Muddy Bride" opened in New York City 100 years ago this month. 

Exhibitors Herald, 15-October-1921

Alf Goulding, who had directed many Harold Lloyd shorts, took a company to Tijuana to film a bullfight.

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Harry Sweet received a two-year contract extension. 

Moving Picture World, 08-October-1921

Charles Doherty starred in "The Merry Dentist." 

Moving Picture World, 15-October-1921

Besides appearing in Century Comedies, Louise Lorraine played Jane in the serial The Adventures of Tarzan, with Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan.

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

"52 Comedies Released by Arrow, One Each Week, Furnish a Convulsing Program for the Next 12 Months." Convulsing?

Exhibitors Herald, 15-October-1921

"These comedies feature foremost fun makers."

Arrow signed Lee Moran, formerly of Lyons and Moran, to be one of their "foremost fun makers."

Exhibitors Herald, 15-October-1921

Al St John, Roscoe Arbuckle's nephew, appeared in comedies for Fox.

Exhibitors Herald, 01-October-1921

Clyde Cook also appeared in Fox comedies.

Exhibitors Herald, 15-October-1921

I don't remember reading about Folly Comedies. I always thought George Ovey did not look funny. Vernon Dent later worked with the Three Stooges.

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

Harry Cohn, his brother Jack and Joe Brandt provided the initials for C.B.C. Film Sales Corp. The Hallroom Boys Comedies were a long running series of short comedies, based on a comic strip by Harold MacGill. At this point, Sid Smith played Percy and Harry McCoy played Ferdy.

Exhibitors Herald, 29-October-1921

This ad refers to the two Boys as "The Two Musketeers," inspired by Douglas Fairbanks' current hit.

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Mario Bianchi was born in Cesena in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. He emigrated to the US in 1914. He adopted the name Monty Banks and appeared in many short comedies. He later appeared in features known for daring stunt work.

Moving Picture World, 22-October-1921

"The motto of clean, wholesome, entertaining comedies will always prevail..."

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Johnny Hines was a funny-looking guy who starred in many light comedies during the 1920s.

Halyna Hutchins, RIP -- October 25, 2021

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was born in Ukraine, died after being shot by a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal for a movie called Rust. It has not yet been determined who was responsible for handing him a gun with a live round. 

Chaplin's Double Role Doubles the Laughs -- October 26, 2021

Arizona Republican, 09-October-1921

Chaplin's dual role in "The Idle Class" drew a lot of attention in the press.

Moving Picture World, 15-October-1921

First National featured the dual role in its advertising. 

Moving Picture World, 08-October-1921

"It is clean, ingenious, bland and irresistable." Interesting use of "bland."

Moving Picture World, 15-October-1921

Selig-Rork managed to work "The Idle Class" into its own ad.

Moving Picture World, 15-October-1921

A cop prepares to interrupt Charlie's dream.

Exhibitors Herald, 22-October-1921

Charlie Chaplin visited director Wallace Worsley and actor Elliot Dexter on the set of the movie Grand Larceny.

Great Falls Tribune, 11-February-1922

The Rollo Sales Corporation purchased Lone Star, the company that had produced Chaplin's Mutual comedies. Lone Star hired famous editor and writer Ralph Spence to create new movies from the miles of outtakes. Chaplin sued and obtained an injunction.

New York Herald, 02-October-1921

The judge was prepared to see two movies, one edited by Chaplin and one by Spence to help him decide the merits of the case.